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  • Posted: Sep 23, 2020
    Deadline: Sep 29, 2020
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    MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of Mennonite business professionals, we partner with the poor to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world. Our expertise includes a full range of economic development too...
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    Country Director, Kenya

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

    Equitable Prosperity Through Private Sector Development (EPTPSD) also referred to as Maendeleo Sawa or M-SAWA is a six-year, $28.7 million CAD initiative funded and implemented by MEDA (supporters and partners) with funding ($18.1 million) from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) which will run from 2015 to 2022.
     

    The project aims to advance equitable growth in Kenya through M-SAWA by strengthening 20,000 small entrepreneurs (SEs) and 250 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture, construction, and extractives sectors. Working in 20 counties with high levels of poverty and food insecurity along the Northern and LAPSSET Corridors, the goal is to increase small supplier incomes, achieve employment growth and improve the equitable distribution of new wealth in these areas, while also encouraging gender sensitive and environmentally sustainable practices.

    To reach the desired outcomes, MEDA uses a combination of technical/financial assistance support along with attracting equity resources to facilitate the uptake of new knowledge, foster innovation, create industry alliances and improve value chain capacities. To effectively strengthen Kenyan SMEs and SEs and achieve its goal of improved incomes, the M-SAWA project works in collaboration with key actors in the Kenyan business eco-system including: lead firms (LFs), business associations or alliances, business development service (BDS) providers, and private equity investment (PEI) funds.

    Over the life of the project MEDA will complete the following key activities:

    • 25 matching grants awarded to SMEs identified as LFs to improve profitability and competitiveness for their own business and SEs in their supply/distribution chains
    • 20,000 SEs engaged by LFs through grant-funded activities that will increase SE knowledge, access to technology and inputs, access to finance, and business alliance mobilization
    • 10 SME alliances (associations) awarded grants to address shared supply chain constraints
    • 225 SMEs receive business development services through local providers and investment funds
    • 40 SMEs assisted to access investment from private equity funds.

    M-SAWA is an exciting project in Kenya as it mobilizes macro-economic development through partnerships with SMEs which can empower their supply chain in both directions. Through these business partnerships, we can facilitate economic growth that can spur social improvements in the communities surrounding our partners.
     

    The Country Director works in close coordination with MEDA’s North American-based Senior Project Manager and Technical Experts tasked to supervise and advise this project.

    RESPONSIBILITIES

     Project Management

    •  Acting as MEDA’s in-country representative
    •  Ensuring daily management of the project and assuming full accountability of project results
    •  Ensuring project and grant performance tracking (implementation, administration, and budget)
    •  Implementing security protocols

    Project financial management

    • Maintaining strict budgetary adherence and monitoring, particularly with the financial and administrative close out of the M-SAWA program.
    • In close collaboration with the Finance Director:  
      • Ensure review and timely submission of regular project financial reports
      • Ensure accurate and timely submission of financial reports for project grants and subcontracts  
      • Ensure contract close-out procedure is followed for all grant contracts

     Project compliance

    • Ensuring effective and efficient management of project’s compliance with planning, monitoring, evaluation, performance, and reporting and with established financial management and procurement policies and procedures
    • Ensuring adherence to local legal requirements
    • Ensuring close-out procedures are followed, with regards to MEDA, Global Affairs Canada, and Government of Kenya protocol.

     Management of field staff

    • Overseeing the management of all field staff, including recruitment, selection, supervision, contract close-out at the end of the project, and ongoing performance evaluations
    • Direct management of Finance Director, Cross-cutting Services Manager, Business Development Specialists and Security Officer

    Relationship management
     

    • Managing successful relationships with the host governments, donor agencies, the business community and other stakeholders
    • Managing successful relationships with project implementation partners and subcontractors; ensuring positive relationships are maintained and project targets are achieved.  

    New business development 

    • Supporting, as time allows and as directed, the Senior Director’s new business development efforts in-country and regionally

    REQUIREMENTS

    Education: University degree (ideally Master’s) in international development, business administration or related field.

    Experience: Minimum of ten years of senior level experience leading and managing complex, large scale, multi-million dollar economic development initiatives (or similar private sector experience); specific technical expertise may also be an asset depending on the project such as investment, women’s economic empowerment, agricultural development, market systems and financial inclusion.

    Additional Qualifications: 

    • Appreciation and support of MEDA’s mission, vision and values  
    • Understanding and appreciation of business principles, international development and MEDA’s approach of creating business solutions to poverty
    • Fluency (written and verbal) in English is required. Working knowledge of Swahili is desirable
    • Proven team leadership abilities in a country office environment and demonstrated collaborative relationships with North American-based HQ specialists and management
    • Functional experience in marketing, business planning, business growth advisory service or related areas
    • Proven ability to mobilize stakeholders into partnerships and alliances, lead and facilitate collaborative processes
    • Demonstrated private sector experience is desirable
    • Demonstrated donor relations reporting, relationship management and ability to monitor grants
    • Excellent report writing and review skills

     Project specific requirements for M-SAWA include:

    • Sector experience: agriculture/agribusiness, construction, services in the extractives sector
    • Experience in using commercial business development services (BDS) providers to upgrade farmer, entrepreneur, and enterprise competencies
    • Strong understanding of business/financial decision making in competitive market environments
    • Strong understanding of business administration, financials, and analytics, to support in the grant close out activities
    • Experience with financial monitoring of contracting and grants (creation, monitoring, and close-out)
    • Understanding of inclusive sub-sector development and value chain development facilitation methods
    • Experience closing out a development program is preferred
    • Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable populations, youth, women, gender, value chain, agriculture, financial services, market solutions, lead firm models, small enterprise development, economic engagement and/or areas of project specific technical expertise required
    • Prior work experience in Kenya or similar country context is preferred
    • Legally able to work in Kenya

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